Investigation of the northern limit of dugong habitat in the Tokara Islands and Amami-Oshima in the Ryukyu archipelago, Japan

  • Ogura Go
    Laboratory of Subtropical Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus
  • Hirayama Takuji
    Subtropical Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus
  • Sudo Kenji
    Laboratory of Subtropical Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus
  • Otaishi Noriyuki
    Laboratory of Ecology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
  • Mukai Hiroshi
    Akkeshi Marine Station, Aquatic Research Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University
  • Kawashima Yoshitsugu
    Laboratory of Subtropical Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 琉球列島におけるジュゴンの分布北限に関する聞き取り調査
  • リュウキュウ レットウ ニ オケル ジュゴン ノ ブンプ ホクゲン ニ カンスル キキトリ チョウサ

Search this article

Description

To ascertain the northern limit of dugong habitat, this study investigated the distribution of dugong and seagrass in the Tokara Islands (Nakanoshima and Takarajima) and Amami-Oshima, in the Ryukyu archipelago. No dugong habitat and seagrass was found in Nakanoshima and Takarajima. In view of the seashore landscapes of the Tokara Islands, dugong habitat was not established from Kuchinoshima to Takarajima. Four dugong sightings occurred at Kurosaki and Yanosaki, in Kasari Bay at Amami-Oshima. The fact that that witnesses were a fisherman and a diver adds credibility to the sightings. In addition, colonies of three species of seagrass (Halophila ovalis, Syringodium isoetifolium and Halodule uninervis) were observed in Kasari Bay, distributed over a large area of the bay. These findings suggest that dugong habitat is established around Kusari Bay, and therefore, that this bay is the northern limit of dugong habitat in the Ryukyu archipelago.

Journal

Citations (1)*help

See more

References(16)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top